Watch My Kid is Not Crazy

My Kid is Not Crazy is a 2016 documentary film directed by Tim Sorel that tells the story of children who suffer from a little-known and controversial disease called Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections, also known as PANDAS. The film showcases the stories of families that are struggling to deal with the effects that the disease has on their children. It stars Jackie Bales, a renowned PANDAS expert, who provides guidance and advice to these families as they struggle to navigate the confusing world of medicines, therapies, and treatments.

The film opens with an introduction to PANDAS, explaining how it is a disorder that affects children who experience a sudden onset of obsessive-compulsive behaviors or tics after a strep throat infection. The film highlights how parents often find it difficult to identify the symptoms of PANDAS, which can be attributed to obsessive behavior, anxiety, aggression or depression, making it a challenge for doctors to diagnose it.

The film delves into the life of young patients across the country who suffer from PANDAS, and their parents who are struggling to find a cure. The film shows that many parents have to become the warriors for their child's health because most doctors are unaware of PANDAS and its treatments.

Jackie Bales is a nurse practitioner who has devoted her life to finding a cure for PANDAS. She explains that PANDAS is often misdiagnosed because the disease is not well known, and the symptoms can be attributed to other diseases such as OCD, ADHD, or Tourettes. Jackie urges parents to become advocates and educate themselves on the symptoms of the disease so that they can help their children get proper treatment.

The film provides insight into the lives of children suffering from PANDAS, as well as the mental, physical and emotional pressure that their families face. The parents share their stories of how their children went from being happy and healthy kids to becoming progressively ill, confused, and irritable.

The documentary also shows the alternative treatments parents try, including homeopathy, acupuncture, and other non-traditional methods, as many traditional medicines failed to help children suffering from PANDAS.

The film provides a powerful description of how PANDAS affects the lives of young patients, detailing their everyday struggles to manage their conditions, both physically and mentally. It shows how they try to understand and control their symptoms, understand the reactions that medications have on their body, and adjust to the changes in their bodies and lives.

It also highlights Jackie's work as she guides families towards proper diagnosis and treatment, providing suggestions on changes in diet, lifestyle, and alternative treatments.

The documentary brings together testimonies from experts such as Dr. Rosario Trifiletti, an ASD/PANS/PANDAS specialist, who talks about the different factors that determine the severity of the disease, its diagnosis, and its treatment.

My Kid is Not Crazy is a movie that provides critical insights into PANDAS, the little-known and poorly understood disease that is so tragic for young patients and their families. The film emphasizes the need for more research and awareness about PANDAS, urging parents and others to take up a mission to educate people to help them get appropriate diagnoses and treatments. The documentary is a powerful call to action to communities, medical professionals, and the public at large to be more attentive to the challenges posed by this disease.